Can conveyer



- R. M. WEYGANT Dec. 2, 1941 CAN CONVEYER Filed Sept. 16," 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Dec. 2, 1941. R. M; WEYGANT 2,264,348

CAN GONVEYER I Filed Sept. 16, 1959 I Sheets-Sheet 2 maul" I. I I 4:. llllmmlllllllllllz M4 mm Bilf 3M1 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 52, 1941 Robert M. Weyxant, 'Waukegan. 111., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., 'a corporation 0! New Jersey Y. Application September 16. 1939, Serial No. 295,308

screams. (0:; 198-25) The present invention relates "to conveyors for articles such as containers or cons and has particular reference to magnetic can divider devices for systematically diverting can from a procession of cans moving along a predeteroi travel in a manner which will prevent spilling I of the contents of the cans.

mined path of travel and for directing them in r predetermined quantities along other paths of travel.

In the closing or sealing of filled cans in cannery practice, the filling of thecans is sometimes effected so rapidly that more than one closing machine is required to close the cans received from one filling machine. Under such conditions some dividing of the cans in the procession offilled cans passing from the filling machine is necessary. Dividing the number of cans in some way or other so that alternate cans or small batches of two or three cans will pass into each closing machine will give the required action. Such division of travel must be so as to supply each closing machine with the quota of cans it is able to close and this must be done in a substantially uniform timed order to keep each closing machine running at full emci'ency all the time.

The present invention contemplates such a can divider and provides a device which will deflect the cans efliciently and in a gentle manner so that spilling of the can contents will be prevented as nearly as possible.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision of a can divider device which will divide a procession 'of filled can-s moving past a plurality of subsequent operation machines I and so divert single cans or small groups of two or three cans from the procession into each machine in a substantially uniform rate of flow so that each machine will becontinuously supplied with cans thereby keeping it operating at its full efliciency while at the same time maintaining an equal distribution of cans among the various machines.

Another object is the provision of such a can dividing device wherein the cans are diverted by a rotating magnetized element whichv picks out certain cans from the procession and diverts them along a predetermined path of travel while permitting the remainder of the cans in the line to continue along their original path and so divide'the incoming cans into batches of substantially equal numbers.

Another object is the provision of a can divider of this character wherein filled cans moving along a predetermined horizontal path of travel will be gently diverted into other paths Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof, I

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation as viewed substantially along a plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. l', with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a transvers section taken substantially along the; line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the broken line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate an apparatus in which filled cans A from a suitable source of supply,

such asa filling machine, are carried on a con' veyer B in a continuous procession along a path of travel adjacent a plurality of feeding discs 0 each of which may be associated with a can closing machine operating for placing covers on the cans and for seeming them in place. The drawings show two such feeding discs by way of illustration although it is obvious that the invention is equally well adapted to as many other divisions as may be desired.

Adjacent each feeding disc C there is located a rotary can divider device D which under certain circumstances diverts the cans from their path of travel on the conveyer and directs them along another path of travel by causing them to move over onto the feeding disc for further advancement. When only two closing machines are used, the first machine is arranged with a divider device D and the second machine is placed at the end of the conveyer so that no divider device is required for this last machine. The divider device is set to divert alternate cans from the conveyer so that substantially half of the cans will be passed into the first machine while the other half remains on the conveyer and is carried thereby directly into the second machine. If more than two machines are required in the line each machine, with the except-ion of the last which is located at the end of the conveyer, is provided with a divider device D. With such a set-up each divider device is arranged to cluding the last in the line will receive sub- The outer ends of the slats ride on the top of l a pair of spaced and parallel longitudinal frame rails l3.

Along the inner side of the conveyer Bthere is provided single spaced and straight guide rails i5 which extend between and beyond the feed discs C. These rails are secured to uprights it which are fastened to the conveyer rails it. At the feed discs one end of each of the straight rails i5 is bent inwardly to provide can deflectingsections ii. In each of the spaces between guide rails there is located a pair of curved guide bars 2| which curve around that particular rotary divider device D adjacent its outer periphery.

One end of each of the curved guide rails 2| extends rearwardly along the conveyer B in a straight section 22 which is parallel with the conveyer. The opposite end of each curved guide rail extends inwardly across the feeding disc C in a straight section 23 which is parallel with the associated straight section ll of the guide rail l5. These rail sections I1, 23 form a runway which directs a diverted can into proper place on the feeding disc.

Along the opposite or outer side of the conveyer B there is a long continuous guide rail 25 which for the greater part of its length is.

straight. This guide rail cooperates with the guide rails I5 in retaining the filled cans in line on the conveyer. However, at that position where a can comes adjacent a divider device D, it is desirable that the can be forced over a little closer to the divider device. The passing can is positively pushed into engagement with the curved guide rail 2| of a divider device by an inwardly beznt can shifting section 26 of the outer guide rail 5.

At the last closing machine in the line where no divider device is required the rear guide rail 25 preferably curves inwardly across the conveyer and aligns with or terminates at the adjacent deflecting section ii of the inner guide rail II as will be readily understood. Hence cans left on the conveyer engage against such curved section oi the outer guide rail and are swept directly into the last machine by means of a final feeding disk C without necessitating the use of a divider device.

The two divider devices D shown in the drawings are identical in construction and operation and where more than two devices are used all will be alike. Hence a description of one will suifice for a clear understanding for all. Device D includes a cylindrical magnet wheel or diverting element 3| which is horizontally dis posed adjacent its curved guide rail 2| and this is located above the feeding disc 0 as shown in Fig. 4.

The magnet wheel is keyed to the upper end of a shouldered shaft 32 (Fig. 4) which is formed integrally with a gear 38 enclosed in a gear case 34 bolted to the side of the inner frame rail I! (see also Figs. 1 and 2). The shaft 32 is carried in a bearing 35 formed in the gear case.

enemas The gear 33 is driven in timed relation with the conveyer B so that the peripheral speed of the magnet wheel 3i will be the same as the linear speed of the conveyer. For this purpose the gear 33 meshes with a driving gear 31 (see also Fig. 3) which is keyed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 38 journaled in a bearing 39 of the gear case. At its lower end the shaft carries a bevel gear 4| which meshes with a bevel pinion 42 on a short horizontal shaft 43 carried in a bearing 46 of the gear case. The shaft 43 also carries a sprocket which meshes with the conveyor chain ii and which is thus rotated in time with the conveyer.

The rotating magnet wheel 3| is preferably made of non-magnetic material but is provided with a plurality of permanent magnets 5| which are arranged in groups around the P riphery of the wheel. These magnets are disposed in radial slots 52 which are formed in the wheel. The magnets are preferably held in place by wedges 53 which are driven into split sections 54 of the wheel located between the magnet'slots. Between the groups of magnets non-magnetic spacer blocks 55 are inserted in the radial slots and are held in place by the wedges 53.

In this manner the magnet groups may be set off from one another to form individual units. Such a construction of magnet wheel also makes it possible to arrange the magnet groups in any desired order and to increase or decrease the size of any or all groups by replacing some of the spacer blocks with magnets or vice versa. In the drawings there is shown two oppositely disposed groups of magnets consisting of four individual magnets, such grouping being taken by way of example in order to show how the groups may be varied, the groups being sep arated by spacer blocks.

Thus as the incoming filled cans A on the moving conveyer B come adjacent the first divider device D, they are momentarily urged toward and engaged against the P riphery of the rotating magnet wheel 31 by the inwardly inclined shifting section 26 of the guide rail. If that part of the wheel engaged by the can carries a magnet group or unit, the can is attracted to the wheel and moves with it. Such a can is carried of! the conveyor 13, along the curved guide rail 2| and onto the feeding disc C. If that part of the wheel engaged by the can is in the region of the spacer blocks instead of a magnet unit, the can is not attracted to the wheel but remains on the conveyer and continues past the first divider device and toward the second divider device where the operation of separation or nonseparation is repeated.

By way of example, Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a set-up for three closing machines with the two divider stations being illustrated. In

- such a setup every third can of a group of three on the conveyor will be diverted by the first divider device. one of the two remaining in the group will be diverted by the second divider device, and the third or last of the group will continue on intothe last machine where no dividerdevice is needed. Hence each machine will receive its quota of cans passing along the runway.

Where one divider device is used as in a two machine set-up substantially alternate cans in the line will be directed into the first machine. the remainder which are left on the conveyer being directed into the second machine at the end of the line. Thus the supply of cans may be equally divided between the machines.

3. In a conveying mechanism for metallic-cans A can diverted onto a feeding disc is carried by the latter into the machine proper for further operations thereon, the can being directed along a predetermined path of travel by an extension of the guide rails I1, 23, or by any other suitable device. Advancement of the cans is effected by the rotation of the disc. For this purpose the disc is mounted on a vertical shaft 51 which is journaled in suitable bearings formed in the machine frame. The shaft carries a gear 58 which may be rotated in any suitablemanner in time with the other moving parts bf the machine. a

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herelnbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

'1. In a conveying mechanism for metallic cans and the like, the combination of a conveyer for moving cans along ,a predetermined path of travel, a rotatable divider device located adjacent the path of travel of the cans and having magnetic and non-magnetic segments, and means for rotating said device in time with the movement of the cans on the conveyer, said device attracting a can to it when a magnetic segment comes adjacent the conveyer and removing the'attracted can from the conveyer and where a non-magand the like, the combination of a conveyer for moving cans along a predetermined path of travel, and a rotating magnetic divided device located adjacent the path of travel of the cans, said device including a plurality of spaced groups of magnets separated by groups-of non-magnetic spacing blocks, said magnet groups being adapted to select certain cans from the conveyer and to direct them along a different path of travel, said non-magnetic spacing blocks leaving the other cans on the conveyer for advancement therewith.

4. Ina conveying mechanism for metallic cans and the like, the combination of a conveyer for moving cans along a predetermined path of travel, and a magnetic divider device located adjacent the path of travel of the cans and having a plurality of selectively adjustable magnets retained therein, said device magnetically selecting cans from the conveyer in accordance with the settin of the magnets and deflecting them alon a different path of travel while leaving the reand the like, the combination of a conveyer for moving cans along a predetermined path of travel, a rotatable magnetic divider device located adjacent the path of travel of the cans, and means for shifting the cans relative to the conveyer in order to bring them into engagement with said divider device, said device magnetically selecting certain cans from the conveyer and deflecting them along a diflerent path of travel while leaving other cans on the conveyer for advancement therewith.

mainder of the cans on the conveyer for further advancement therewith.

5. In a conveying mechanism for metallic cans and the like, the combination of a conveyer for moving cans along a predetermined path of travel, a magnetic divider device located adjacent the path of travel of the cans, said device including a rotatable wheel having a plurality of radial slots formed therein, a plurality of adjustable permanent magnets arranged in groups in some 'of said wheel slots for providing magnetic segments in the latter, non-magnetic spacer blocks arranged in other of said wheel slots and interposed between said magnet groups for providing non-magneticsegments in the wheel, and a plurality of wedge pins interposed between the mag- 

